Abstract:

This study was carried out between 2014-2016 for two years in order to determine the nutrient contents of some evergreen shrub species such as Spanish broom, laurel-leaf cistus, cade juniper, woolly blackberry and kermes oak, collected from the natural vegetation of Usak province. In the research, statistically significant differences were determined in terms of dry matter ratio, crude protein ratio, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and ash contents among the seasons. In the study, the dry matter ratios of the shrub species ranged from 41.97 to 58.09%. The highest crude protein content was determined in woolly blackberry (12.90%) and the lowest was determined in cade juniper (5.56%). The progress of the season led to a decrease in crude protein ratios. NDF rates of shrub species changed from 25.70 to 48.76 percent, while ADF ratios ranged from 19.34 to 30.98 percent. While the lowest NDF and ADF ratios were observed in the laurel-leaf cistus, the progression of the season caused an increase in the rates of NDF and ADF in contrast to the crude protein. Crude ash rates were changed between 5.11% and 7.13% and the highest crude ash was determined in laurel-leaf cistus. According to the results obtained from the study, it is concluded that shrub species are the source of quality roughage for sheep and goats in all periods of the year, especially when the pastures are dormant.

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